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Toxicity of low concentration long-term exposure to an airborne mixture of nitrous oxide and halothane.

Excessive spontaneous abortions due to halothane (151677) and nitrous-oxide (10024972) (N2O) in female anesthesiologists, anesthetists, operating room nurses, and wives of males performing this type of work were investigated using rats. Cesarian delivered rats were divided into a group of mature males and females that was exposed to 1 part per million (ppm) halothane and 50ppm N20 or 10ppm halothane and 500ppm N2O for periods of 7 hours per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks and a second group 30 days old that was exposed to either of the same concentrations for the same periods for 106 weeks. The rats in the first group were allowed to mate at random and were then reexposed. The offspring of the exposed rats were delivered by cesarian section and were examined for visceral abnormalities, skeletal defects, and other birth defects. The second group was monitored for toxic effects and incidence, size, and location of tissue masses. Complete blood counts were determined and gross necropsies were performed at study termination. Results indicated a significant reduction in ovulation and implantation efficiency from exposure to higher concentrations and slightly retarded fetal development at both concentrations. No teratological, abortifacient, or tumorigenic effects were observed. Damage to bone marrow and spermatogonial cells occurred at both exposure concentrations.

Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology. Toxicological and Carcinogenic Health Hazards in the Workplace: proceedings of the First Annual NIOSH Scientific Symposium, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 1978